As you're probably aware, I have a soft spot for Italian Power Metal, and one of more recognizable outfits from the pizza and pasta capital are Highlord, a band that came to wide acclaim with their sophomore effort When The Aurora Falls, though they have produced better albums since. One of them is Medusa's Coil, their fourth album from 2004, a record sure to please any fan of the style.

Splashed with liberal progressive frills and a good dose of melody, Medusa's Coil treads the same path as Labyrinth in their heyday, though generally Highlord do it a little better than their predecessors. After the somewhat special Breath Of Eternity, Highlord really learned how to get the most out of their songs, and there is a lot to take in during "Far From The Light Of God" and "Dancing With Destiny", compositions that are packed tight with speedy riffage, slick vocals, and shiny keyboards from long standing finger-smith Alessandro Muscio. Despite the obvious Labyrinth comparisons, Highlord do things differently on Medusa's Coil. The riffs have a distinct old-school flavor to them, with a cool mid-80s Iron Maiden vibe to them at times, and the vocal lines are catchy and simple, almost poppy when compared to the often heavy guitar work. The keys are what make this such an easy listen, using a variety of sounds to lighten the sound with just a touch of majesty.

Though polished, the production has plenty of grit, so those who enjoy the more melodic and sensitive side of the Power Metal sphere shouldn't worry; this isn't Wonderland we're talking here. But fans of Odyssea, Killing Touch, and Powerworld will fall in love with this. A very pleasant experience indeed.